Page images
PDF
EPUB

COMATAS.

On goat's-rue feed, my goats, and cytisus;

On lentisk tread, and lie on arbutus !

LACON.

Of the rose-eglantine there blooms a heap,
And eke the honey-flower-to feed my sheep.

COMATAS.

Alcippe for my ring-dove gave no kiss,
Holding my ears-I love her not for this.

LACON.

I love my love because a sweet lip paid
With kisses for my pipe-the gift I made.

COMATAS.

Nor whoop the swan, nor jay the nightingale
May rival; still you challenge, still to fail.

MORSON.

Cease, shepherd! Morson gives the lamb to thee, Comatas; fail not to remember me,

And let my portion of the flesh be nice,

When to the Nymphs you make your sacrifice.

COMATAS.

By Pan! I'll send it. Snort and gambol round,
My buck-goats all! hark! what a mighty sound
I peal of ringing laughter at the cost

Of Lacon, who to me his lamb has lost!

I too will skip. My horned goats, good cheer!
To-morrow in the fountain, cool and clear,

Of Sybaris I'll bathe you. Hark! I say,
White butting ram! be modest, till I pay

The Nymphs my offering. Ha! then blows I'll try-
Or may I like the curst Melanthius die.

IDYL VI.

THE HERDSMEN.

ARGUMENT.

Damotas and Daphnis beguile the time by singing alternately. Daphnis, acting the part of a spectator, describes Polyphemus sitting on a rock that overlooks the sea, and Galatea, the seanymph beloved by the Cyclops, sporting on the waves near the shore. Damætas represents Polyphemus, professing that he has acted with apparent harshness and indifference in order to attract the nymph, and compel her to live ashore with him. When they have done singing, they exchange presents.

IDYL VI.

THE HERDSMEN.

DAMETAS AND DAPHNIS.

To the same field, Aratus, bard divine!
Once Daphnis and Damotas drove their kine.
This on the chin a yellow beard did show:
On that the down had just begun to grow.
During the noontide of the summer heat,
They by a fountain sung their ditties sweet.
But Daphnis first (to whom it did belong
As challenger) began the pastoral song.

DAPHNIS.

"With apples Galatea pelts thy sheep,

Inviting one, whose pulses never leap

To love, whilst thou, cold Polypheme! dost pipe, Regardless of the sea-born beauty ripe.

« EelmineJätka »